(ASHLAND, Va.) – Fans of Randolph-Macon men's lacrosse had plenty to celebrate at Nunnally Field as the Yellow Jackets defeated heated-rival Hampden-Sydney on Senior Day. It was a nail-biter throughout as the largest lead by any point in the game was three goals.

The Basics

Score: Randolph-Macon 14, Hampden-Sydney 13

Venue: Nunnally Field

Records: Randolph-Macon 8-5, 4-2 ODAC; Hampden-Sydney 9-5, 4-3 ODAC

How It Happened

• It was apparent early on that this game would be close from start to finish and that the players wanted to match up one-on-one. The first quarter featured five goals from five different players, and all of them were unassisted.
• Unfortunately for the Lemon and Black, they were down one entering the second. They were able to make up for it and opened up the next frame with the first three goals. Jack Averna (Sr., Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier) tied the game at 3-all on an assist from Andrew Tiffey (Sr., Columbia, Md. / Wilde Lake) before Avery Tankersley (Fr., Baltimore, Md. / Boys Latin) fired one past the goalie for a 4-3 lead.
• Brandon Smith (Sr., Richmond, Va. / Douglas Freeman) pushed that lead to two on an EMO chance, but Sydney answered right back with three consecutive goals, one of which was a man up as well.
• The Tigers looked poised to strike once again as another penalty was called on the Jackets, but it was Macon that benefited from being a man down as Christian Devault (Jr., Ashburn, Va. / Riverside) scored to tie the game with 1:14. The Jackets weren't done yet as Tiffey gave R-MC the lead with 52 seconds left as the penalty was about to expire.
• H-SC tied the game to start the third before Kevin Andrews (Jr., Fallston, Md. / St. Paul's) and Derek Marsilio (Sr., Harrisburg, Pa. / Bishop McDevitt) scored back-to-back goals to regain the lead. It sparked a 4-1 run with goals by Tankersley and Tiffey on the other bookend of a Tigers goal to give the Jackets an 11-8 lead. It ended up being the largest lead of the night.
• It didn't last long as Sydney scored with 31 seconds left to cut the deficit back to two. An early fourth quarter goal by the visitors then made it 11-10. From there on out it was proverbial punch for punch. Every time Sydney scored, Randolph-Macon was able to counter. Ryan Pritchard (So., Crofton, Md. / DeMatha) started the trend, and after another Tigers goal cut the deficit back to one, Brandon Smith did the same.
• Another Tigers goal made it 13-12 with 3:58 to go in the game. That was the score the last time the Yellow Jackets defeated their arch-rivals. Would it happen again? In a word, no: Jack Averna eventually scored a pivotal 14th goal with 71 seconds remaining.
• Sydney's Bobby Clagett scored once again to make it 14-13. The Tigers won the ensuing ground ball and had one last opportunity, but a pass inside was deflected away and into the stick of Sam Averna (Sr., Warrenton, Va. / Fauquier). The clear was barely successful before more loose balls followed, but H-SC couldn't get control as time ran out and the Jackets ran onto the field.

Inside The Numbers

• The win for the Yellow Jackets was their first against Hampden-Sydney since 2013. It was their first against the Tigers at home since 2008.
• Sam Averna was pivotal between the pipes with nine saves. Almost half of them came in the fourth quarter as he made four of them on 10 attempts.
• JD Spotts (So., Richmond, Va. / Collegiate) had another spectacular day in the middle as he won 18-of-30 face-offs on the day. He was particularly strong in the second half where he was 10-for-16.
• The offense was by committee today. Jack Averna led the charge with three goals. Brandon Smith, Tiffey, Marsilio, and Tankersley all had two.
• While a majority of the goals were solo projects, Jack Smith (So., Stevensville, Md. / DeMatha) assisted on four of them. Perhaps none were bigger than the two man-down goals just before the end of the first half.
• Owen Campbell (So., Timonium, Md. / Dulaney) was a key figure in Spotts' success on faceoffs as he picked up many of the resulting ground balls. He totaled six for game-high honors.

For Hampden-Sydney

• Bobby Clagett was the source of the Tigers' attack as he led the team with a game-high seven goals.
• Will Perry made six saves on the day.

Up Next

The Yellow Jackets still have one more game at home in the regular season, but they'll be on the road for two games before that First up is a trip to Virginia Beach to take on the Marlins of Virginia Wesleyan. That contest is set for Wednesday at 7 p.m.